Itinerary
- Day 1
Seoul
You'll get transferred to your hotel in Seoul and have time to settle in after checking in. Later in the afternoon, there's a briefing about the tour to get you oriented with what's ahead.
- Day 2
Seoul
Start early heading to Cheorwon to explore the DMZ, stopping at the Second Tunnel, Cheorwon Peace Observatory with views into North Korean villages, the abandoned Woljeong-ri railway station, and Baek Ma Battle Memorial. A traditional Makgeolli producer visit is next before heading back to Seoul. That evening, you'll see City Hall and Deoksugung Palace (which gets lit up nicely at night), then walk through Myeongdong shopping district. Getting back to the hotel is easy by metro.
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner (Dinner at a local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Second Tunnel visit
- Cheorwon Peace Observatory visit
- Woljeong-ri railway station visit
- Baek Ma Battle Memorial visit
- Traditional Makgeolli producer visit
- City Hall visit
- Deoksugung Palace visit (evening)
- Myeongdong district walk
- Metro ticket to hotel
Landmarks/POIs Second Tunnel Cheorwon Peace Observatory Baek Ma Battle Memorial Deoksugung Palace City Hall, Seoul Myeongdong - Day 3
Seoul
A five-hour guided tour covers a lot of ground in Seoul. You'll walk through Changdeokgung Palace, pass by traditional Bukchon Hanok Village, and see the War Memorial of Korea. Lunch happens at a local restaurant before heading to Gangnam District for shopping. Lotte World Tower is next (550 meters tall with optional paid access to go up), or you can explore the park and luxury malls around it. You're back at the hotel with free time after.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at a local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Changdeokgung Palace visit
- Bukchon Hanok Village pass-by
- War Memorial of Korea visit
- Gangnam District visit
- Lotte World Tower vicinity exploration
Optional Activities
- Lotte World Tower ascent (ticket not included)
Landmarks/POIs Changdeokgung Palace Bukchon Hanok Village War Memorial of Korea Gangnam District Lotte World Tower - Day 4
Suwon - Jeonju
Begin at Gyeongbokgung Palace where there's a chance to see the ceremonial changing of the guard, then head south to Suwon, the former capital, to see the UNESCO World Heritage walls and Hwaseong Haenggung summer palace. From there, continue to Jeonju to walk through the historic Hanok Village with its traditional houses, shops, and art galleries.
- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Gyeongbokgung Palace visit
- Ceremonial changing of the guard (if scheduled)
- Suwon UNESCO World Heritage walls visit
- Hwaseong Haenggung summer palace visit
- Jeonju Hanok Village historic center exploration
Landmarks/POIs Gyeongbokgung Palace Suwon Hwaseong Fortress Hwaseong Haenggung Jeonju Hanok Village - Day 5
Damyang - Haeinsa - Busan
Start at Sunchang Gochujang Village below Mount Amisan where you'll learn hands-on how to make traditional Korean chili paste with master artisans. Next is Damyang to walk through Juknokwon Bamboo Forest and the Bamboo Museum. Lunch features rice cooked and served inside a bamboo stalk. Then you arrive at Haeinsa, one of Korea's most important Buddhist temples with the Tripitaka (80,000 wooden Buddhist scripture tablets). End the day in Busan, Korea's second-largest city.
- Meals
- Lunch (Rice cooked and served inside a bamboo stalk (local specialty))
Included Activities
- Sunchang Gochujang Village hands-on gochujang-making experience
- Juknokwon Bamboo Forest walk
- Bamboo Museum visit
- Haeinsa Buddhist temple visit
- Tripitaka viewing
Landmarks/POIs Sunchang Gochujang Village Mount Amisan Juknokwon Bamboo Forest Bamboo Museum Haeinsa - Day 6
Shimonoseki
Leave Busan early to visit Haedong Yonggung, a 14th-century Buddhist temple right by the sea, then return to Busan to see the United Nations Memorial and the country's largest fish market near Nampo Port. Walk through Yongdusan Park with its 120-meter pagoda. By 5:30 p.m., check-in formalities for the ferry are complete, and you depart at 9:00 p.m. crossing the Sea of Japan in double cabins with private bathrooms. Alternatively, a high-speed ferry leaves at 3:00 p.m., arriving in Fukuoka around 6:30 p.m. with hotel accommodation.
- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Haedong Yonggung temple visit
- United Nations Memorial visit
- Largest fish market visit
- Yongdusan Park visit
- Ferry crossing
Landmarks/POIs Haedong Yonggung Nampo Port Yongdusan Park - Day 7
Iwakuni - Miyajima - Hiroshima
Arrive at Shimonoseki Port at 8:00 a.m. and complete border crossing, then head to Iwakuni to see the historic Kintai-Kyo Bridge. A ferry takes you to Miyajima, the sacred island where Itsukushima Shrine sits partially over water, dedicated to the guardian of the seas. You'll explore the shrine and walk the town center. Later, continue to Hiroshima to tour the Peace Memorial, see the atomic bomb dome, and visit the Peace Museum. Dinner is included.
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Kintai-Kyo Bridge visit
- Ferry to Miyajima
- Itsukushima Shrine visit
- Miyajima town exploration
- Peace Memorial tour
- Atomic Bomb Dome visit
- Peace Museum visit
Landmarks/POIs Kintai-Kyo Bridge Itsukushima Shrine Hiroshima Peace Memorial Atomic Bomb Dome Peace Memorial Museum - Day 8
Matsuyama
Take a ferry to Shikoku Island (about 2.5 hours). Once in Matsuyama, ride the cable car up to the castle, then visit Ishiteji, a beautiful Buddhist temple and popular pilgrimage site. Lunch happens at a local restaurant. Later in the afternoon, you'll have admission to Dogo Onsen, a traditional Japanese bathhouse built in the 19th century.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at a local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Ferry to Shikoku Island
- Matsuyama Castle cable car and visit
- Ishiteji Buddhist temple visit
- Dogo Onsen admission and bathhouse experience
Landmarks/POIs Matsuyama Castle Ishiteji Dogo Onsen - Day 9
Kotohira - Takamatsu - Naruto - Kobe
Head to Kotohira to see a Shinto shrine dedicated to the God of sailors on Mount Zosu (accessible by climbing 785 steps), an important pilgrimage site. Then move on to Takamatsu to visit Ritsurin, one of Japan's most beautiful gardens. Lunch is at a local restaurant. In Naruto, stop at an impressive bridge spanning the sea and walk on its glass floor to observe powerful sea whirlpools from 45 meters above. Scenic bridges connecting islands over the sea lead you to Kobe for the night.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at a local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Kotohira Shinto shrine visit
- Mount Zosu 785 steps climb
- Ritsurin garden visit
- Naruto Bridge exploration
- Glass floor walk over sea whirlpools
- Island bridge drive
Landmarks/POIs Kotohira Shrine Mount Zosu Ritsurin Garden Naruto Bridge - Day 10
Mount Koya
In Kobe, visit the Earthquake Memorial Museum honoring the 1995 earthquake and the city's reconstruction. Continue to Mount Koya, the most important center of Shingon Buddhism with 120 temples and monasteries. You'll see the Okuno Mausoleum, a spiritual cemetery with over 200,000 graves set in nature, and Kongobuji Temple built in 1593. Spend the night in a Buddhist monastery where monks lead a Zen meditation practice. A vegetarian meal and dinner are included, and you can attend the religious ceremony before breakfast if interested.
- Meals
- Dinner (Vegetarian meal at monastery)
Included Activities
- Earthquake Memorial Museum visit
- Okuno Mausoleum visit
- Kongobuji Temple visit
- Zen meditation practice (Ajikan) with monks
- Optional religious ceremony attendance
Optional Activities
- Religious ceremony at temple (before breakfast)
Landmarks/POIs Earthquake Memorial Museum Mount Koya Okuno Mausoleum Kongobuji Temple - Day 11
Kyoto
Start with a traditional Japanese breakfast at the temple, then leave early for Kyoto, Japan's former capital (794-1868) which escaped WWII bombing and kept its artistic and cultural heritage intact. Visit Fushimi Inari Shinto Shrine, the Imperial Palace, and Kinkaku-ji Temple with its gardens. You'll have free time to explore, then visit Gion, the traditional district known for Geisha culture, with additional free time.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Traditional Japanese breakfast at temple)
Included Activities
- Traditional Japanese breakfast at temple
- Fushimi Inari Shrine visit
- Imperial Palace visit
- Kinkaku-ji Temple (Golden Pavilion) visit
- Gion district visit
Landmarks/POIs Fushimi Inari Shrine Imperial Palace, Kyoto Kinkaku-ji Gion - Day 12
Tsumago - Matsumoto - Nagano
Head out for Tsumago, a small village known for its wooden houses and considered one of Japan's prettiest places, with countryside scenery along the way. You'll have free time to explore and lunch is included. Continue to Matsumoto, a lively tourist city with an impressive 16th-century castle famously called 'The Crow'. After free time to explore the bustling city, travel continues to Nagano for overnight accommodation.
- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Tsumago village exploration
- Matsumoto Castle visit
Landmarks/POIs Tsumago Matsumoto Castle - Day 13
Japanese Alps - Kusatsu - Ikaho
Visit Zenko-ji in Nagano, a revered pilgrimage site with Japan's first Buddhist image. The included Gomakuyo ceremony brings blessings and good fortune. Travel into the Japanese Alps to visit Jigokudani Monkey Park where you'll have lunch, then stroll through forests, rivers, and hot springs where Japanese macaques live and bathe. You'll reach high mountain scenery at 2,172 meters and pass semi-active volcanoes. Continue to Kusatsu, a charming spa town with a lively main square and open-air onsen. Visit picturesque Ikaho spa town with its famous stair-stepped streets. Stay at a ryokan with bath access and traditional Japanese dinner.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at Jigokudani Monkey Park), Dinner (Traditional Japanese dinner at ryokan)
Included Activities
- Zenko-ji pilgrimage site visit
- Gomakuyo ceremony
- Jigokudani Monkey Park visit
- Forest, river, and hot spring stroll
- Kusatsu spa town walk
- Kusatsu park and open-air onsen walk
- Ikaho spa town historic center exploration
- Ryokan bath access
- Traditional Japanese dinner at ryokan
Landmarks/POIs Zenko-ji Japanese Alps Jigokudani Monkey Park Kusatsu Ikaho - Day 14
Nikko - Tokyo
Head to Nikko, a great town with the impressive Nikko-Toshogu Temple known for its famous 'room with the sound of a dragon'. Explore the serene Taiyuinbyo Mausoleum and take a stroll along Kanmangafuchi Abyss where hundreds of Jizo statues watch over the riverbanks. You'll have free time to explore the town center before returning to Tokyo, arriving around 6:30 p.m.
Included Activities
- Nikko-Toshogu Temple visit
- Taiyuinbyo Mausoleum visit
- Kanmangafuchi Abyss stroll
Landmarks/POIs Nikko-Toshogu Temple Taiyuinbyo Mausoleum Kanmangafuchi Abyss - Day 15
Tokyo
Start with a five-hour guided tour of Tokyo beginning at Zojoji Temple with nice views of Tokyo Tower and hundreds of Jizo statues in colorful knitwear. See the famous Shibuya Crossing, visit Meiji Shrine, and drive along elegant Omotesando Avenue. Pass the Imperial Palace gardens and iconic Nijubashi Bridge, then go through vibrant Akihabara with its manga and anime culture. See the Kokugikan sumo wrestling arena before ending the morning tour in Asakusa at historic Sensoji Temple and famous Nakamise Street. Lunch at a local restaurant and free time follow. At 6:30 p.m., meet your guide for a metro trip to Shinjuku district (tickets included) for an evening stroll through vibrant nightlife streets. Dinner is included at a local restaurant before returning to the hotel by metro.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at a local restaurant), Dinner (Dinner at a local restaurant in Shinjuku)
Included Activities
- Zojoji Temple visit
- Shibuya Crossing visit
- Meiji Shrine visit
- Omotesando Avenue drive
- Imperial Palace gardens viewing
- Nijubashi Bridge viewing
- Akihabara district pass-through
- Kokugikan sumo arena viewing
- Sensoji Temple visit
- Nakamise Street visit
- Evening Shinjuku district stroll
- Metro tickets
- Evening metro return to hotel
Landmarks/POIs Zojoji Temple Tokyo Tower Shibuya Crossing Meiji Shrine Omotesando Avenue Imperial Palace, Tokyo Nijubashi Bridge Akihabara Kokugikan Sensoji Temple Nakamise Street Shinjuku - Day 16
Tokyo
After breakfast, your tour ends here, leaving you with great memories of the trip.
- Meals
- Breakfast
